Ação dos térmitas no solo

Abstract

RESUMOA ordem Isoptera é bastante conhecida pelo seu potencial como praga, apesar dos cupins-praga constituírem a minoria dentro do grupo. Os cupins (térmitas) são invertebrados dominantes em ambientes terrestres tropicais e estão espalhados desde as florestas úmidas até as savanas, sendo encontrados até mesmo em regiões áridas, nos mais variados habitats. Esses insetos têm um papel destacado e ainda pouco estudado nos ecossistemas tropicais. Ciclagem de nutrientes, aeração, infiltração de água do solo, bioturbação, formação de agregados e decomposição de material orgânico, são processos influenciados pela ação dos térmitas, que vão, direta ou indiretamente, influenciar a formação dos solos e da paisagem onde se encontram. Sugerimos que uma maior abordagem deva ser dirigida em futuras pesquisas para a influência desses insetos no solo sob condições específicas de uso e manejo, na produção sustentável de alimentos e nas mudanças climáticas.Palavras-chave: Isoptera, atividade térmita, biologia do solo, bioturbação, cupins-praga. ABSTRACTThe order Isoptera is well known by its potential as a plague, although the number of species that are plagues is small within the group. Termites are the dominant invertebrates in tropical terrestrial environments and are spread from tropical rainforests to the savannahs, being found even in arid regions, in various habitats. These insects have a major role and are still little studied in tropical ecosystems. Nutrient cycling, aeration, water infiltration of soil, bioturbation, aggregates formation and organic material decomposition, are processes influenced by the action of termites, which , directly or indirectly, affect soil and landscape formation wherever they are. We suggest that a better approach must be addressed in future researches about these insects influence in the soil under specified conditions of use and management, in sustainable food production and climate changes.

Termite Mounds Effects on Soil Properties in the Atlantic Forest Biome

“…Therefore, they have been addressed in studies in different parts of the world, considering the impact of their activities on the soil, as well as their constructions. At the landscape scale, termite activities play a key role in the distribution of resources (Jouquet et al, 2004) through physical changes in biotic or abiotic materials (Ferreira et al, 2011). On a smaller scale, especially in the tropical savanna, termites are known to significantly influence soil properties (Rückamp et al, 2012) with the construction of their nests (termite mounds) (Fall et al, 2001).…”

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“…Este resultado pode ser atribuído a um conjunto de fatores como maiores valores de Ksat, menor declividade, fatores físico-hídricos do solo, entre outros. No que se refere a estes fatores, a presença e adição constante de matéria orgânica do solo sob floresta favorece a agregação do solo e também estimula a atividade de organismos que produzem poros de variados tamanhos (Ferreira et al, 2011). Da mesma forma, a maior porosidade do solo também é favorecida pela grande quantidade de raízes (Bonell, 2005).…”

Effect of termite activity on soil under different land management strategies

“…The species belonging to the genus Cornitermes are responsible for the construction of the vast majority of these structures, most of which are found on the surface of the soil (FERREIRA et al, 2011). In Brazil, the term "mound-building cupim" has been associated almost exclusively with the species Cornitermes cumulans (Kollar, 1832), due to the high frequency with which their nests can be found; these are mainly in pastures in the Southeast, as well as in parts of the Central-West, South, and Northeast regions of Brazil (VALÉRIO, 2006).…”

“…This is due to the increase in pH, porosity, clay content, organic matter, and nutrients in termite nests, as compared with the surrounding soil that has not been affected by these organisms (ACKERMAN et al, 2007;SARCINELLI et al, 2009;COSARINSKY, 2011;ECHEZONA et al, 2012;SARCINELLI et al, 2013). It is known that the resistant outer layer of the mounds built by Cornitermes cumulans is mainly made of soil, while the central chamber where the colony lives is rich in organic matter (REDFORD, 1984;FERREIRA et al, 2011).…”

“…Thus, the influence of termites and their mounds on soil formation, landscape transformation, nutrient cycling, and as bioindicators of disturbance of tropical ecosystems have not been investigated adequately (JOUQUET et al, 2014). Further studies should be carried out to examine the important ecological role of these organisms in different ecosystems (FERREIRA et al, 2011). The present study aimed to identify possible relational patterns between the surrounding soil under different types of land management, and different sections of the termite nests created by Cornitermes cumulans, considering the texture and chemical attributes of the material used to form the mounds in Pinheiral, Rio de Janeiro.…”